Kader Meité to Al Hilal or Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace fans would certainly have preferred to avoid such a heated winter. Mired in a crisis of worrying results, the London club must also deal with the reality of a transfer window that is likely to leave its mark.
After seeing their captain Marc Guehi leave Selhurst Park to join Manchester City, the Eagles could also witness the departure of their offensive leader, Jean-Philippe Mateta, whose desire to leave is becoming increasingly concrete. And if these plans come to fruition, finding a successor would become a top priority. Kader Meité, 18, could well be the chosen one.
But prying him away from Rennes (again), who want to keep their young star, will be difficult. Especially since Crystal Palace will have to face fierce competition from Al Hilal, the Saudi club that have also made the talented forward a prime target.
Charlie Cresswell to Wolfsburg
Leaving the nest is never an easy decision. For Charlie Cresswell, however, it was the obvious one. A choice driven by the desire to continue the development he had begun at Leeds United, the club where he trained, but which had been slowed down by the lack of prospects that seemed to be available to him.
Arriving in Toulouse 18 months ago, Cresswell quickly established himself as one of the pillars of the team. But above all, he became one of the leading players in his position in Ligue 1. A remarkable rise to prominence for a player who now has no shortage of more “high-profile” suitors.
Starting with VfL Wolfsburg, whose offer of over €20 million was rejected by Toulouse, who are holding out for €10 million more before agreeing to part with their central defender. But the Wolves are not the only ones eyeing the England Under-21 international. The battle promises to be fierce.
Sidiki Cherif to Crystal Palace or Wrexham
Doing a lot with very little. That was the situation Angers found themselves in last summer. Having lost Esteban Lepaul, who transferred to Rennes in the final days of the summer transfer window, and forced to deal with significant financial problems, SCO had to get creative.
So, in the hope of finding salvation, the current 11th-placed team in Ligue 1 turned to their youth academy. A rewarding choice for an attractive team, led by Alexandre Dujeux and his appealing playing style. And Sidiki Cherif to become one of its incarnations.
At just 19 years of age, the Conakry native has taken on responsibilities that he was not necessarily destined for at the start of the season. But that’s not about to unsettle the powerful 1.85m striker, already on four goals in Ligue 1 and courted in England, where his athleticism and technical skills could take him to new heights.
Angel Gomes to Wolverhampton
When he arrived at Olympique de Marseille last summer, everything suggested that Angel Gomes had all the qualities needed to make his mark. An even more interesting coup given that he cost the southern French club nothing, as the midfielder had reached the end of his contract with Lille.
However, things did not go as planned, and Roberto De Zerbi’s difficulty in finding the right player to partner Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the Marseille midfield gradually relegated the 25-year-old to a supporting role. So much so that his club quickly decided to open the door to a potential departure for the Edmonton native.
An opportunity for Wolverhampton Wanderers, locked in a tough battle to stay in the Premier League, who, according to Foot Mercato, have targeted Gomes to strengthen their midfield. Six years after waving goodbye, the former Manchester United player could soon be celebrating his reunion with the English top flight. With the desire, this time, to really make a name for himself.
Jérémy Jacquet to Chelsea
The Stade Rennais academy, recognised in 2025 and for the third consecutive year as the best in France, could once again see one of its graduates join a European football giant. After Eduardo Camavinga, Mathys Tel or Désiré Doué, it seems that it is now Jérémy Jacquet’s turn to spread his wings.
And it is at Chelsea, impressed by the profile of the 20-year-old centre-back, that the Frenchman could soon be landing.
But if the Blues really want to bring him to Stamford Bridge, it will cost them. No less than €60 million, to be precise, to allow Rennes to secure a record transfer fee for Jacquet. It must be said that the French club, like their coach Habib Beye, are in no hurry to part with their young player and will not be making any concessions to their London counterparts. Chelsea know this: the ball is now in their court.
